Snag-preventive sinker for treble fishhooks

ABSTRACT

A lead sinker for a three-pronged fishhook is formed in a mold. The sinker has a hemisphericallike bottom from which there extends upwardly three spaced-apart tongue portions, forming therebetween a void space and their spacing projects as slots into the top of the hemisphericallike bottom. The bottoms of the slots are concave to conform to the curved portion of the fishhook that extends outwardly from its central shank. The shanks and curved portions of the hooks are received in the void space between the tongues and in the slots. Each tongue has an integral formed flap along one respective edge and this flap is bent over the nested shank of the hook thereby forming a smooth closed securement over the shank.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert E. Spencer Rt. 2, Nokesville, Va. 22123 [21] Appl. No. 815,378 [22] Filed Apr. 11,1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [54] SNAG-PREVENTIVE SINKER FOR TREBLE F ISHHOOKS 1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl t. 43l44 8l, 43/43. I 43/44.89 [Sl] lnt.Cl ..A0lk 95/00 [50] Field of Search o. 43/44.81. 44.89. 42.38. 43.1

[56] Referencs Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 399,866 3/1889 Gage 43/44.89 3,181,265 5/1965 Cook 43/44.81X

Primary Examiner-Samuel KQren Assistant Examiner-Dariiel .l. Leach Attorney-Jones and Lockwood ABSTRACT: A lead sinker for a three-pronged fishhook is formed. in a mold. The sinker has a hemisphericallike bottom from which there extends upwardly three spaced-apart tongue portions, forming therebe twteen a yoid space and their spacing projects slots into the o of the hemisphericallike bottom. The lg ptto ms oLthe slots iijregoneave to conform to the curved portiongf the fishhook that extends outwardly from its central shank. The Shanks and Clli'VBd portions of the hooks are received in the gold space between the tongues and in the slots. Each tongue has an integral formed flap along one respectiye edge andthis-flap is bent over the nested shank of the hook thereby forming a smopth closed securement over the shank.

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SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG/0 INVENTOI? ROBERT E: SPENCER SNAG-PREVENTIVE SINKER FOR TREBLE F ISHHOOKS It is an object of the invention to mold a lead sinker for a treble fishhook.

A further object of the invention is to provide a treble fishhook sinker that tends to hold the fishhook in a generally upright position as it settles to the bottom and is in position to snag a fish.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sinker for a treble flshhook that has a hemispherical like bottom, slots and grooves formed by three tongues extending upwardly from the bottom which receive the shanks and curved portions of the fishhooks and have flaps on the edges of the tongues that are easily bendable over the adjacent portions of the hooks to form a smooth surface.

A further object of the invention is that various weights of sinkers can be made by merely changing one part of the mold to enlarge the bottom end of the sinker.

Another object of the invention is that this sinker provides a balanced grip on the treble fishhook.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mold assembly for molding a lead sinker for a treble fishhook that molds a hemisphericallike bottom with three upwardly projecting integral spaced-apart tongues with slots to receive the shanks and the three arcuate fishhook parts, the tongues having integral flaps for bending over the adjacent fishhook portion.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention reference is had to the drawings, the written description and the claims which follow. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the sinker in place on a treble fishhook;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing how the flaps are bent over the shanks of the fishhooks;

FIG. scale;

FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

3 is a side elevational view of the sinker on an enlarged 4 is a top plan view of FIG. 3;

5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; 6 is an exploded isometric view of the mold; 7 is a front elevation of the assembled mold;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line 99 in FIG. 8 with insert removed and on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 10 is a view along line 10-10 of FIG. 9 showing the radically extending recess pockets in the mold and a pocket for forming a flap on one of the tongues.

Throughout the description like reference numbers refer to similar parts.

A lead sinker according to the invention is generally indicated at 10 and has a hemisphericallike bottom 12 with three spaced-apart upwardly extending integrally projecting tongues 13. The lower end portions of the tongues 13 are integrally joined and the outer surface of these lower ends, just above the hemisphericallike bottom portion 12, as indicated from a to b, see FIG. 3, is shaped as a frustum ofa cone that integrally joins at its lower and larger end with the top portion of the hemisphericallike bottom 12. These tongues form a void space therebetween consisting of three radially extending slots 14 that extend from a central vertically extending recess 15. Each tongue 13 has a flap 13a extending from a respective edge. The bottom of each slot 14 has a concave surface 14a that extends from a center horizontal face 120 at the end of the central vertical recess between the tongues.

A treble fishhook generally indicated at 18 has three vertically aligned shanks 19 tenninating in an eye 1911 at their top. The lower part of the hooks are arcuate at 20 with a barb 200 at their ends. The shanks 19 extend in the central vertical recess I5 of the sinker and the arcuate lower hook portions 20 nest in the slots 14 and their lower arcuate portions 140 in the sinker.

After the treble fishhook 18 has been set in place downwardly into the slotted sinker. the flap portions 13a on each tongue 13 of the sinker are bent over the adjacent portion of the flshhook as best shown in FIG. 2. This forms a smooth surface and secures the treble fishhook tightly in and to the sinker l0.

MOLD

ln FIGS. 6-10 is illustrated the mold assembly 30 for molding the sinker 10 shown in FIGS. l-5. A first or bottom planar member 31 is provided with a central vertical countersunk aperture 13a and two diagonally opposite vertically extending guideposts 31b to receive the other mold planar members.

A second planar member 33 having guideposts apertures 33a is received on top of the bottom member 31. Second member 33 has a central void cavity 33b in the form of a frustum of a cone with its larger bottom lying in the upper plane surface of this second member. Radially extending from the cavity 33b are three equally spaced-apart vertically extending slots 33c. Each slot 33c are shown in FIG. 9 has an adjoining cutaway portion 3311 along its lower edge that forms a cavity for forming a flap portion 13 of the lead sinker 10.

An insert member generally indicated at 34 has a central cylindrical portion 34a, a threaded axially extending recess 34b in its bottom end and three spaced-apart vertically extending portions or partitions 340 that are received in the slots 33c as the insert 34 is moved downwardly into the frustum of a cone cavity in member 33. The bottom of the insert 34 rests in abutting engagement on the top planar surface of the bottom member 31. A screw 32 is received in the countersink aperture 31a in the bottom member and screws into the axial recess 34b in the insert 34 to hold it in place.

A third planar member 35 having guidepost apertures 35a is received on top of the second member 33. This third member 35 is a hemisphericallike cavity 35a extending up from the bottom of member 35 at its center with his equator portion lying in the bottom planar surface of member 35. The top of the hemisphericallylike cavity 35a terminates in an aperture 35c that lines in the top planar surface of this third planar member 35.

A fourth planar or top member 35 having guidepost apertures 36a is received on top of the third planar member 35. Extending down through the center of the top member 36 is a funnel 36b through which molten lead is poured into the mold to mold a sinker.

It is to be noted that sinkers of greater size and weight can be formed by using a thicker third planar member and forming a deeper cavity 35b therewithin.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 it will be noted that in the lower half portions of the respective walls of the slots 33c in the second member 33 there is a cavity 33d that serves to mold a flap 33a therein on the sinker.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sinker for a treble fishhook having a a hemisphericallike bottom portion,

three spaced-apart tongue portions whose lower end portions are integrally joined and the outer surface of said lower joined ends is shaped as a frustum of a cone that integrally joins at its lower and larger end with the top portion of the hemisphericallike bottom.

said tongue portions having along one respective edge thereof adjacent their upper ends a projecting flap portion,

said tongue portions defining a slot therebetween whose bottom is a concave surface extending from between the tongues downwardly and outwardly to adjacent the top edge of said hemisphericallike bottom portion,

whereby the treble fishhook lower shank portions are received in the central portion defined between the tongue portions and an adjacent curved portion of each hook depending from its respective shank is nested in the slots and against their arcuate lower ends thereof, said flap portions on the tongues being adapted to be bent over the adjacent shank portions. 

1. A sinker for a treble fishhook having a a hemisphericallikE bottom portion, three spaced-apart tongue portions whose lower end portions are integrally joined and the outer surface of said lower joined ends is shaped as a frustum of a cone that integrally joins at its lower and larger end with the top portion of the hemisphericallike bottom, said tongue portions having along one respective edge thereof adjacent their upper ends a projecting flap portion, said tongue portions defining a slot therebetween whose bottom is a concave surface extending from between the tongues downwardly and outwardly to adjacent the top edge of said hemisphericallike bottom portion, whereby the treble fishhook lower shank portions are received in the central portion defined between the tongue portions and an adjacent curved portion of each hook depending from its respective shank is nested in the slots and against their arcuate lower ends thereof, said flap portions on the tongues being adapted to be bent over the adjacent shank portions. 